The event is expected to attract about 400 exhibitors, with two exhibition halls and a lecture programme.

Alexander Stein, director MedtecLive at NürnbergMesse, said: “From a standing start, MedtecLive will launch as an international networking platform based in southern Germany, and also as Europe’s second largest exhibition for medical technology. That’s clear from the many partner entities and associations that have committed to our event pairing.”

Half of the exhibition area at the event in May will be taken up by companies in the fields of processing, manufacturing and mechanical engineering, while the other half will be split evenly between all other fields, from research to packaging and logistics in the medical technology sector.

Stein added: “The entire sector hopes to contribute to the success of MedtecLive and definitely wants to be a part of the innovation platform when it launches in spring. It’s clear that we will achieve our goal of representing the entire value chain, from the initial ideas through to production and the downstream processes.”

The industry forums in the exhibition halls will see many partner entities covering topics of current interest, from cyber security to the latest developments on all aspects of the European Medical Device Regulation (MDR), from hygienic design to artificial intelligence, recruiting skilled employees, and access to the international market. Young enterprises will introduce their developments at the Innovation Market Place, which is jointly supported by Medical Valley EMN and EIT Health, and VCLS Neighbourhood from France. In pitch sessions during the start - up contest, founders will offer an insight into their developments and business models. The winners of the contest will be awarded prizes at MedtecLive, provided by NürnbergMesse and its partners.

On the second day of the exhibition, the industry’s next generation will gather at the annual meeting of Young Professionals@Medtech, organised by the Association of German Engineers (VDI) as part of MedtecLive. This day will also include lectures and workshops focusing on topics such as bioelectronics and artificial intelligence, which will appear on the agenda alongside regulatory issues relating to the MDR and requirements of clinical studies, and how to develop a career in medical technology. VDI is also actively involved in the latest industry topics in the exhibition forums.